Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 14: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Friday issued an apology after facing massive backlash from Indian social media users for sharing a map that inaccurately depicted Jammu and Kashmir as part of Pakistan.
The map, posted on IDF’s official X handle, was meant to illustrate regional tensions amid escalating conflict with Iran. However, the misrepresentation of India's borders drew sharp criticism, prompting the IDF to clarify: “This post is an illustration of the region. This map fails to precisely depict borders. We apologize for any offence caused by this image.”
Outrage poured in from Indian netizens who flagged the error and demanded an immediate correction, tagging Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Many users accused the IDF of undermining India's sovereignty.
The incident also triggered political reactions back home. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a "diplomatic embarrassment." Taking to X, Khera said, “Another day, another feather in Vishwaguru’s cap. His ‘friend’ shows Jammu & Kashmir as a part of Pakistan.”
India and Israel have cultivated strong diplomatic and strategic ties over the years. PM Modi’s historic visit to Israel in 2017 marked a new chapter in bilateral relations, with both leaders—Modi and Netanyahu—regularly exchanging praise and support.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate in West Asia. After Israel launched surprise overnight strikes under ‘Operation Rising Lion’, hitting key Iranian nuclear and military installations, Iran responded on Saturday with a fresh missile barrage targeting northern Israel. Sirens blared and civilians were urged to take shelter as over 100 drones and missiles were launched in retaliation, reportedly killing top Iranian military officials including IRGC chief Hossein Salami.
The diplomatic fallout over the IDF’s map error adds another layer of complexity as India maintains a delicate balance amid mounting regional volatility.